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July 31, 2012

G104: Red Sox 4, Tigers 1 (6, rain)

Justin Verlander (5-6-4-4-6, 107) did not have his best stuff and Boston was able to score four times in the fourth, thanks to four singles and two walks, one with the bases loaded. Verlander tied a season-high with four walks.

It drizzled and rained most of the evening, and the game was called (!) with Detroit batting with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, after a rain delay of 1:45.

Verlander was off from the start, throwing 35 pitches in the first inning, and leaving the bases loaded. Ellsbury singled and, after two were out, both Adrian Gonzalez and Ross walked. Verlander was able to strike out Jarrod Saltalamacchia, ending the threat.

Cody Ross and Salty both singled to start the fourth-inning fun. After Will Middlebrooks struck out, Kelly Shoppach walked on a full count, loading the bases. Pedro Ciriaco lined a single into left field, tying the game at 1-1. The bases remained loaded. Jacoby Ellsbury worked a five-pitch walk, scoring Salty. Carl Crawford chopped a single over Verlander's head, and when 2B Omar Infante tried to bare-hand the ball on the muddy infield dirt, it skipped past him for an error. Two runs scored. Dustin Pedroia then hacked at the first pitch and grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Josh Beckett (2.2-1-1-2-2, 49) left the game in the third inning with a back spasm. He retired the first eight batters, but gave up an infield single to Infante, grazed Austin Jackson with a pitch, and then issued two walks, forcing in a run. After the second walk, he called the trainer out.

Clay Mortensen relieved Beckett and pitched 2.2 innings. He issued a walk to Prince Fielder to start the sixth and retired Delmon Young before departing. Franklin Morales came in. Pinch-hitter Ryan Rayburn forced Fielder at second for the second out. Then Alex Avila singled and Jhonny Peralta walked. the Tigers, trailing by three, had the bases loaded and Infante due up.

That was when the umpires called for the tarp - and at roughly 11:18, they declared the Red Sox the winners!

Boston has won four straight and has gained four games in the standings in four days. Down in New York, the Yankees scored five times in the first inning only to see the Orioles strike for seven runs of their own in the top of the second and cruise to an 11-5 win. The Yankees' lead in the East is down to 5.5 games; the Red Sox are 7.5 GB.

Ryan Sweeney will likely be placed on the disabled list today. After grounding out in the eighth inning last night, a frustrated Sweeney punched a door and hurt his throwing hand.

I just came down, walked down the stairs, and kind of punched the door a little bit, which I've done before, but maybe not to this extent. ... I've never broken my hand before, so I don't know what that feels like. I know it hurts a little bit right now.

Tom Caron thinks the Red Sox would be 6 to 6.5 games out under last year's system! The fact that he's estimating leads me to believe he just doesn't understand how it all works, as opposed to the "MLB is telling everyone to hype up the second wild card" theory. I think these guys are just idiots. (Cafardo agreed with everything TC was saying as a bonus.)